Beed, Maharashtra: Proving that a mother’s determination can conquer the most difficult paths, a 47-year-old single mother from Maharashtra’s Beed district recently won a local marathon while running barefoot in a traditional saree. Her motivation was not athletic glory, but the ₹3,000 cash prize, which she desperately needed to buy educational books for her daughters.
Ramabai Ranveer, a resident of Ambajogai, works as a cook at a local educational academy. Following the tragic death of her husband in an accident in Mumbai years ago, the entire responsibility of raising and educating her two daughters fell on her shoulders.
When Ramabai learned about the ‘Amrut Daud’ marathon organized by a local group and its first-place cash reward, she immediately saw an opportunity to support her daughters’ ambitions. On the day of the race, she lined up alongside younger competitors who were dressed in professional tracksuits and running gear.
She initially began the race wearing everyday slippers. However, when the footwear began slipping and slowing her down, she quickly took them off, held them in her hands, and continued the race completely barefoot. Gathering her saree to avoid tripping, Ramabai braved the cold asphalt and stony patches, maintaining a formidable pace to ultimately cross the finish line first.
“There were many women in the race, but I had a firm resolve to win the prize. While running, I could only see my daughters’ future,” Ramabai told reporters after her remarkable victory. She proudly confirmed that the ₹3,000 prize money would go directly towards purchasing their study materials.
In a heartwarming twist, her elder daughter, Pooja, also participated in the same marathon and secured the second position just behind her mother. Pooja, who had initially encouraged Ramabai to participate, expressed sheer astonishment at her mother’s first-place finish. “She raised us through incredibly difficult circumstances and never gave up,” Pooja remarked.
Both daughters are currently preparing for competitive exams; Pooja aspires to become a police officer, while her younger sister is focusing on banking sector exams. Moved by the family’s immense dedication and Ramabai’s daily toil in the academy’s kitchen, the director of the institution recently decided to waive Pooja’s academic fees, bringing much-needed relief to the family.